VOC Regulations from US EPA, OTC, CARB, SCAQMD and Environment Canada
These regulations reduce the amount of Volatile Organic Content (VOC) emitted from architectural and industrial maintenance (AIM) coatings. Many California areas were affected as of January 2010. Canada rules will be affected in September 2010 for most categories of coatings.
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These regional VOC regulations (OTC, CARB, SCAQMD, etc.) differ from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) national VOC standards. In general, the new regulations are more restrictive in lowering the maximum amount of VOCs allowed in these areas. USEPA regulations also permit manufacturers to pay an "exceedance fee" in order to supply non-compliant specialty products. This is not allowed in the areas adopting the new regulations.
Although the regulations affect what products distributors in these areas can buy from Vexcon after effective dates, "sell-through" provisions let distributors sell inventory of affected coatings manufactured on or before the effective dates. Sell-through dates in Canada are two years from the date the category limits go into effect.
The new regulations affect the following product categories sold by Vexcon;
- Waterproofing Concrete/Masonry Coatings
- Epoxy Coatings
- Cure & Seal Coatings
- Penetrating Sealers
- Water & Stain Repellents
- Form Treatments
- Paver Treatments
All Vexcon materials comply presently with US EPA VOC rules, and we have materials in every category that comply with regional limits. The tables below include example limits on a range of product categories. This information has been obtained from sources believed to be accurate. The most current information can be obtained by consulting the applicable agency. Consult your local, state, regional or federal authorities for more information on rules applicable to your area. Contact Vexcon Technical Service or your Vexcon representative at (215) 332-7709 or (888) 839-2661 for more information on how our materials comply with various rules.
Category Examples under Various State and Regional Standards
USA Central, South, Northwest:
National AIM rule (regulated by EPA) = US EPA AIM = Federal AIM VOC 40 CFR Part 59 Subpart D under authority of Section 183(e) of the Clean Air Act
| Architectural Coating Category | VOC Limit g/L |
|---|---|
| Bond Breakers | 600 g/L |
| Concrete Curing Compounds | 350 g/L |
| Concrete Curing and Sealing Compounds | 700 g/L |
| Concrete Surface Retarders | 780 g/L |
| Form Release Compounds | 450 g/L |
| Industrial Maintenance | 450 g/L |
|
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/183e/aim/aimpg.html |
|
CANADA:
Canada EPA and Environment Canada: Effective September 2010 Vol. 143, No. 20 - September 30, 2009; Registration SOR/2009-264 September 9, 2009
| Architectural Coating Category | VOC Limit g/L | Effective Date (Anniversary of the Day on which the Regulations Come into Force) |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Maintenance Coating, Any other | 340 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Bond Breakers | 350 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Concrete Curing Compounds | 350 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Concrete Surface Retarders | 780 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Floor Coating, Any other opaque (for foot traffic) | 250 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Form Release Compounds | 250 g/L | Sept 2012 (3rd anniv.) |
| Mastic Texture Coatings | 300 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Specialty Primers, Sealers, Under Coaters | 350 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Stain | 250 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Waterproofing Sealer, Concrete/Masonry | 400 g/L | Sept 2010 (1st anniv.) |
| Link to official Canada gazette for text of rule and chart of limits: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2009/2009-09-30/html/sor-dors264-eng.html |
||
California except South Coast
CARB SCM (Suggested Control Measure) categories, Nov 2006 New Limits Effective January 2010
| Architectural Coating Category | VOC Limit g/L | New Limits January 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Bond Breakers | 350 g/L | |
| Concrete Curing Compounds | 350 g/L | |
| Concrete/Masonry Sealers | 400 g/L (Waterproofing) | 100 g/L |
| Floor Coatings | 250 g/L | 100 g/L |
| Industrial Maintenance | 250 g/L | |
| Mastic Texture | 300 g/L | 100 g/L |
| Primer | 200 g/L | |
| Reactive Penetrating Sealers | n/a | 350 g/L |
| Specialty Primers, Sealers, Undercoaters | 350 g/L | 100 g/L |
| Stains | 250 g/L | |
| http://www.arb.ca.gov/coatings/arch/VOCLimits.htm | ||
California South Coast
SCAQMD Rule 1113, July 1 2007 (plus Antelope Valley/Mojave Desert)
| Architectural Coating Category | VOC Limit g/L |
|---|---|
| Bond Breakers | 350 g/L |
| Concrete-Curing Compounds | 100 g/L |
| Concrete-Curing Compounds for Roads & Bridges | 350 g/L |
| Floor Coatings | 50 g/L |
| Industrial Maintenance Coatings | 100 g/L |
| Primer | 100 g/L |
| Stain (interior) | 100 g/L |
| Waterproofing Concrete/Masonry Sealers | 100 g/L |
| http://www.aqmd.gov/rules/download.html Rule 1113 | |
Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio, Illinois
Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) Phase I Model Rule, January 1 2005
| Architectural Coating Category | VOC Limit g/L |
|---|---|
| Bond Breakers | 350 g/L |
| Concrete Curing Compounds | 350 g/L |
| Floor Coatings | 250 g/L |
| Form-Release Compounds | 250 g/L |
| Industrial Maintenance Coatings (NOTE: OTC Model Rule is 250 g/L; states select 340 g/L) | 340 g/L |
| Mastic Texture Coatings | 300 g/L |
| Specialty Primers, Sealers, and Undercoaters | 350 g/L |
| Stains | 250 g/L |
| Waterproofing Concrete/Masonry Sealers | 400 g/L |
| OTC: http://www.otcair.org Mass.: http://www.mass.gov/dep/air/laws/aimcpfr.pdf Ohio: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dapc/regs/3745-113/3745-113-03f.pdf |
|
Key to Acronyms
- AIM: Architectural, Industrial, Maintenance
- CARB: California Air Resource Board = Cal/EPA ARB
- CEPA/EC: Canada Environmental Protection Agency/Environment Canada
- EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
- LADCO: Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (Illinois, Indiana, Mich., Wisc.)
- MRPO: Midwest Regional Planning Organization (IL, IN, Mich., Ohio, Wisc.)
- OTC: Ozone Transport Commission (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA)
- SCAQMD: South Coast Air Quality Management District (California, Los Angeles area)
- VOC: Volatile Organic Compound
Information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is based solely on information available to Vexcon and the general public as of the date of this document.
